🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,128 in Szolnok versus $2,476 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,754 in Szolnok versus $3,545 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,379 in Szolnok versus $4,613 in Barcelona.
🌍Living in Szolnok costs roughly 54% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szolnok is 18% below, Barcelona is 81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.07Ft 3,205
$18.74€16.33
-46.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.72Ft 15.2K
$69.5€60.6
-31.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.44Ft 2,684
$13.77€12.00
-38.71%
Cappuccino
$2.43Ft 774
$3.10€2.70
-21.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98Ft 631
$2.83€2.47
-30.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29Ft 410
$1.88€1.64
-31.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62Ft 832
$3.98€3.47
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89Ft 920
$4.53€3.95
-36.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92Ft 294
$1.27€1.11
-27.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28Ft 406
$2.16€1.88
-40.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60Ft 509
$1.76€1.53
-9.09%
Eggs
$3.29Ft 1,045
$5.13€4.47
-35.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.68Ft 2,444
$17.88€15.59
-57.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64Ft 2,111
$9.65€8.41
-31.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63Ft 4,336
$20.15€17.56
-32.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55Ft 494
$3.25€2.84
-52.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85Ft 589
$2.23€1.94
-17.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56Ft 498
$2.60€2.27
-40.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49Ft 793
$2.76€2.40
-9.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67Ft 212
$2.21€1.93
-69.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74Ft 234
$2.12€1.85
-65.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Ft 339
$1.55€1.35
-30.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Ft 114
$0.95€0.83
-62.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12Ft 2,264
$7.34€6.40
-3.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.68Ft 1,172
$8.05€7.01
-54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96Ft 306
$1.54€1.35
-37.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30Ft 413
$2.79€2.43
-53.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05Ft 334
$3.11€2.71
-66.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.38Ft 8,391
$25.86€22.54
2.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96Ft 940
$3.27€2.85
-9.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.31Ft 734
$1.48€1.29
56.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.42Ft 4,904
$34.27€29.88
-55.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86Ft 592
$1.73€1.51
7.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KFt 9.0M
$36.4K€31.7K
-22.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4KFt 12.2M
$30.5K€26.6K
25.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130Ft 41.4K
$187€163
-30.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.76Ft 9,466
$15.14€13.20
96.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.16Ft 7,366
$37.69€32.85
-38.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.60Ft 13.6K
$55.9€48.76
-23.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.82Ft 5,988
$17.08€14.89
10.19%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41Ft 1,085
$11.41€9.95
-70.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161Ft 51.2K
$997€869
-83.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,981Ft 1.6M
$16.5K€14.4K
-69.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6Ft 27.5K
$92.6€80.8
-6.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5Ft 16.4K
$41.22€35.93
24.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5Ft 29.4K
$111€96.9
-16.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122Ft 38.9K
$125€109
-2.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$417Ft 132.7K
$1,707€1,488
-75.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Ft 106.3K
$1,286€1,121
-74.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$659Ft 209.7K
$2,565€2,236
-74.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523Ft 166.4K
$1,942€1,693
-73.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,117Ft 673.3K
$7,647€6,666
-72.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,705Ft 542.5K
$5,167€4,504
-67.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082Ft 344.3K
$2,348€2,047
-53.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.69
3.16
143.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szolnok: September 13, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $417 in Szolnok and $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 117% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Szolnok vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $336 per month, with Szolnok cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Szolnok vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szolnok and in Barcelona?
Szolnok and Barcelona differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($1,128 vs $2,476 including rent). Szolnok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 117% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Szolnok and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $417 in Szolnok versus $1,707 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $161 in Szolnok versus $997 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,128 in Szolnok versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Szolnok but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Szolnok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Szolnok or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szolnok and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Szolnok or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Szolnok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.